All about acne

If you have been hiding your acne behind layers of make-up, it’s time to stop. In the last few months a lot of social media stars have been going bare faced. Recently, Kendall Jenner who was shamed for her Golden Globes appearence with her acne on display, hit back at trolls saying it shouldn’t stop you. Others like Instagram figures, Hailey Wait and Em Ford have been posting make-up free selfies, flaunting their pimples and emphasising that acne doesn’t make one ugly. Skin experts tell After Hrs more about the issue.

Has a psychological impact

Acne is a skin condition associated with excessive sebum secretion. It is characterised by blackheads, whiteheads, pustules and cysts. There are multiple factors that lead to the increase in the size of the glands, the most common being hormonal imbalance. Untreated acne can lead to increased chances of scarring, acne marks and open pores that leads to hyper pigmentation causing depression, self-isolation, and embarrassment, explains Dr Batul Patel, medical director and dermatologist, The Bombay Skin Clinic. “Recently popular celebrities and influencers have been flaunting their acne primarily from an aesthetic point of view. Often we forget the psychological and medical impact of this condition. In addition, the influencers should also spread awareness around the medical need of treating this early on and give inspiration and support to destroy the stigma around this condition. The psychological effects of acne have now been scientifically proven which was earlier considered as only a cosmetic affliction,” says Dr Patel, adding that  acne affects 85 per cent of adolescent and young adults in India.

Various treatment options

With more and more people speaking about acne, it is no longer considered taboo. Youngsters suffering from acne should not be shunned and instead discuss ways to prevent and treat it. Medically proven and safe treatments could be used to prevent long term complications and scars. Dr Mohan Thomas, senior cosmetic surgeon, Cosmetic Surgery Institute says acne treatments are aimed at achieving a few things — decreasing sebum production, killing acne bacteria, helping to normalise skin shedding, and fight inflammation. “Non-prescription treatments include applications in the form of creams which are available over the counter. Active ingredients usually include salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide in various concentrations. Prescription treatments can be prescribed only after a consultation with a dermatologist and include Vitamin A based creams that reduce the oil content of the skin and local and systemic antibiotics that reduce the bacterial content in the acne,” adds Dr Thomas.

Maintain healthy skin

It is important to identify the cause of acne. Acne can be hereditary and is often associated with environmental factors as well. Make-up can also cause clogging of pores resulting in the closure of duct opening that leads to comedones which can manifest in acne later on. Dr Shefali Trasi Nerurkar, MD Skin, consultant dermatologist, Dr Trasi’s Clinic and La Piel says, “A regular routine of cleansing, toning and moisturising with non-comedogenic creams is essential. Regular exfoliation with masks and scrubs can help too. To minimise the occurrence of acne, use a non-comedogenic cleanser and remove make-up before sleeping. Watch your diet and avoid junk food.”